Star secrets

What are the biggest beauty secrets of Hollywood's hottest stars? We got top stylists and makeup artists to give us the scoop on how they get A-listers beautiful for awards season. Take their advice, and paparazzi-ready skin, buzzworthy makeup, and stylist-on-call hair may be within your reach.

Star secrets

What are the biggest beauty secrets of Hollywood's hottest stars? We got top stylists and makeup artists to give us the scoop on how they get A-listers beautiful for awards season. Take their advice, and paparazzi-ready skin, buzzworthy makeup, and stylist-on-call hair may be within your reach.

Be so smooth

To glow like Gugu Mbatha-Raw, go for an exfoliator that has both physical exfoliants (like microbeads) and chemical ones (like fruit enzymes), says New York City celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. Massage over your T-zoneaka oil centraland let sit on the rest of your face like a mask for 15 minutes.

Bust a blemish

Celebs get cortisone shots to zap pimples, but this DIY remedy works wonders in a pinch: "Mix one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water and apply to the blemish," says New York City and Miami dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD. "The vinegar lowers skin's pH balance, wiping out bacteria, and contains exfoliating acids."

Take off 10 years

Celeb aestheticians recommend using a product with hyaluronic acid for at least three days before a big event; it has hydrating superpowers, so skin instantly appears less lined, fresher and all-around younger.

Depuff, pronto

When clients of Los Angeles skin pro Kate Somerville don't get enough sleep, she advises using an eye cream with caffeine, which constricts blood vessels to reduce undereye bags. Her cool application technique: Use two chilled spoons to massage in the cream, moving from the inner corners toward temples. "The cold metal speeds up the depuffing process," she says.

Banish blotches

One accessory that doesn't pair so well with a designer gown: red splotches. Vargas tells her clients (who include Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts) to take a chamomile bath the night before a red carpet appearance to soothe skin. Toss a few tea bags into a warm bath and soak away.

Counteract cakiness

Whether from a pro lens or an iPhone, camera flashes amp up shine. Before reaching for powder, New York City makeup artist Kristofer Buckle uses blotting papers: "The less moist your makeup, the less powder will settle into creases."

Make lasting waves

For the tousled waves she creates on clients like Amanda Seyfried and Dianna Agron, Los Angeles stylist Jenny Cho does two things: "First I use a texturizer to give the hair some movement, then I spritz on dry shampoo for volume."

Shine on

If you don't have time for a dye job, temporarily revive both your color and luster with an at-home clear gloss. Apply on dry hair for ultimate sheen, says Kari Hill, a celebrity colorist for L'Oréal Paris. Leave on for 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition.

Spray this way

To give a style hold without sacrificing volume, "spritz hairspray onto fingertips and massage into roots," says New York City stylist Rodney Cutler, whose clients include Jaime King and Jordin Sparks.

Get curl power

If you need to rejuvenate spirals while you're out, try Cho's trick: Wrap any wilting strands around your index finger and hold under a bathroom hand dryer for about 10 seconds. "The heat reactivates the curl and helps it spring back to life," she says.